What was it like to the first Black footballer in Liverpool’s 88-year history to play at first team level? To grow up in Toxteth and Norris Green, and be heralded as the man who took Liverpool to the European Cup final in 1981? Howard Gayle tonight shares first-hand experience of his footballing career with Emy Onuora, author of Pitch Black, The Story of Black British Footballers.

Budding poet? Then enjoy tonight’s workshop with poet and record producer Simon Pomery, which promises lively discussion and poetic exercises. Expect the night to take particular inspiration from German artist Elger Esser’s photographic landscapes (detail of Salwa Bahry I, pictured, below), which are currently on show as Morgenland at Parasol, and created during his travels across Lebanon, Egypt and Israel.

With one of Plume’s earlier performances this year reviewed as “intricately textured trip-hop… giving the impression of a single long-form composition slowly unfurling”, this Manchester-based electronic/experimental four piece have piqued our imagination with their sneak peek trailer for this week’s RNCM show (top). Expect abstract, digital projection mapping alongside a trippy, one hour live set in the RNCM opera theatre.

With a growing sense of excitement, Chester’s brand new cultural centre opens this week: a cinema, library, cafe and theatre space firmly focus on new performance, film and music. Expect drama inside and outside of the new building, as many of the performances will also be shown as open air events: Alice in Wonderland, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Julius Caesar – and a “filthy” interpreatation of musical The Beggar’s Opera; drama and comedy with new cinematic releases The Sense of an Ending and Mindhorn, as well as a crowd-pleasing mix of blockbusters, from La La Land to Moana, as open air screenings; and a blend of world, classical and experimental live music, of which Craig Charles’ interpretation of Red Riding Hood, Tales Of The Dark Woods, is a highlight. Read our feature on the space here.

Enjoy five different exhibitions tonight in five different venues, alongside yummy “School Dinners” from the Small Food Bakery. At Primary, expect to see Sahej Rahal’s live performance launch his shamanistic solo show, Dry Salvages; whilst Trade Gallery (also situated at Primary) introduces the strange cereamcs of Urara Tsuchiya (pictured, above).

As part of Culture Warrington’s Paint It Black film noir series, Penketh Library shows one of the first: Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler’s cracking thriller (pictured, below). Based on James M. Cain’s novel, and filled to bust with memorable one-liners — “I couldn’t hear my own footsteps. It was the walk of a dead man” – it’s a thrilling and doomed affair of two greedy lovers: one blond femme fatale and her insurance salesman lover who plan to murder her unsuspecting husband.

Hong Kong as seen through the eyes of artist Eason Tsang Ka Wai. Expect photography and experimental media to capture the experiences of city-dwellers: interior spaces, crowded public spaces and “hidden anxieties about excessive modernisation”. Until 18 June 2017.

Introduced by the wonderful Jarvis Cocker (Pulp frontman and BBC 6 Music presenter), this one-off evening spent with composer Pierre Henry’s previously un-staged work is bound to be one to remember — as programmed to celebrate the Bluecoat’s 300 year anniversary (listen to our playlist here). Using 40 speakers to create a huge sound around the circular cathedral space, which is bathed in blue light from its stained glass, expect a truly immersive live mix of Henry’s “musique concrete” by his collaborator Thierry Balasse, in addition to a set by a set by contemporary electronic sound designers Vincent Epplay and Samon Takahashi.

Sadly, today is the last day to see LOOK/17 Photography Festival. Fear not, as artist John Davies sends it out in style: presenting a selection of his black and white and colour documentary cityscapes (pictured, above), from work made since the 1980’s to the present day, to start a conversation about our evolving cities. Be sure to pop into the other LOOK/17 venues, which include the nearby Open Eye Gallery and Museum of Liverpool: read our articles here.

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An online magazine featuring the latest arts, design, film & music coverage in the UK. Our mission: to hold a mirror up to the national -- in particular the North-West -- art scene and reflect it, uncovering and analysing the talent based here.